So, you’ve decided to spend your evening watching society crumble under the weight of a twelve-hour window of total lawlessness. It's a mood. Honestly, finding exactly where to watch The Purge has become a bit of a headache because the rights to these films jump around between streaming giants like a game of musical chairs. One month it’s Peacock, the next it’s Max, and suddenly you’re staring at a "Buy for $14.99" button on Amazon Prime Video wondering if the New Founding Fathers are personally trying to tax your bank account.
The franchise has grown way beyond that first 2013 home-invasion thriller starring Ethan Hawke. We now have five movies and a two-season TV show that expands the lore in ways the films never quite had the runtime for. If you’re trying to marathon the whole thing, you’ve got to be strategic.
Right now, the streaming landscape for the franchise is split. Universal Pictures owns the series, which means Peacock is usually the home base. However, licensing deals frequently shift titles over to Hulu or Max for short windows. If you’re looking for the 2013 original, The Purge, it often pops up on Peacock’s premium tier. The sequels, Anarchy and Election Year, tend to travel as a pack.
The Streaming Shuffle: Tracking Down Every Film
Tracking down the 2014 sequel The Purge: Anarchy—which, let’s be real, is arguably the best of the bunch—requires checking the current rotating library of Peacock. It’s the film that took the action to the streets and introduced Frank Grillo’s Leo Barnes, basically the only person in this universe who actually knows how to survive. If it isn't on Peacock when you're reading this, check DirecTV Stream or FuboTV, as they often carry the linear cable rights via USA Network or SYFY.
The Purge: Election Year (2016) hits a little differently depending on the current political climate, and it’s frequently bundled with the others on NBCUniversal's platforms. Then there’s the prequel, The First Purge (2018). It’s often the outlier. You might find it on Hulu one week and then find it's vanished the next. It’s frustrating.
For the most recent cinematic entry, The Forever Purge (2021), you’re usually looking at Freevee (with ads) or a rental via Apple TV or Google Play. It hasn't quite settled into a "permanent" free-to-stream home yet.
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What About the TV Show?
People often sleep on The Purge TV series. It ran for two seasons on USA Network and actually did a better job than the movies at explaining what happens during the other 364 days of the year. It explores how people live with their neighbors knowing those neighbors tried to kill them three months ago.
If you want to watch the show, Hulu has historically been the place to go, but Peacock is the most reliable source now. Each season functions like a long-form movie, with Season 2 specifically focusing on the aftermath of a Purge night, which is a perspective the films rarely touch.
Why You Can’t Find It "Free" Everywhere
Licensing is a nightmare. Netflix used to have the franchise in several regions, but in the US, NBCUniversal has clawed back much of its content to bolster Peacock. If you are searching for where to watch The Purge and it’s not showing up on your subscribed services, it’s likely because it has moved to a "digital storefront" phase.
This means you’ll have to pay.
Renting is usually $3.99, but if you’re a fan, buying the "5-Movie Collection" on Vudu or Amazon is almost always cheaper than individual rentals. It fluctuates. Sometimes the bundle hits $20. Sometimes it’s $45. Wait for a holiday sale—ironically, Halloween or the Fourth of July usually sees the steepest discounts for this specific brand of mayhem.
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The Best Way to Watch: Chronological vs. Release Order
How should you actually watch these? You have two choices.
- Release Order: Start with the 2013 original. It’s a small, contained story. Then go to Anarchy, Election Year, The First Purge, and finally The Forever Purge. This is how the world was revealed to us.
- Chronological Order: This is for the lore nerds. You start with The First Purge (the origin story), then jump to the 2013 original, then Anarchy, then the TV Series (Season 1, then Season 2), then Election Year, and finally The Forever Purge.
Actually, watching the TV series between the second and third movies adds a ton of weight to the political stakes in Election Year. It makes the world feel lived-in rather than just a series of jumpscares and neon masks.
Regional Differences and VPNs
If you’re outside the US, the situation is totally different. In the UK, the films often land on Sky Go or Now TV. In Canada, Crave is a frequent host. Because Netflix still holds international distribution rights for many Universal titles in certain territories, a VPN can sometimes reveal the movies are available on Netflix Germany or Netflix Japan even when they're missing from the US library.
It's a bit of a cat-and-mouse game.
What People Get Wrong About the Franchise
Most people think The Purge is just about "crime being legal." It’s not. In the logic of the films, it’s a targeted economic policy designed to eliminate the poor who can't afford high-tech security systems. When you're watching, look at the background details. The news broadcasts, the radio chatter—the franchise is much more of a satirical dystopia than a pure slasher flick.
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If you're only looking for jumpscares, you'll find them. But if you're looking for why the series has lasted over a decade, it's that uncomfortable feeling that the "New Founding Fathers" aren't as fictional as we'd like them to be.
Current Streaming Status Summary
- The Purge (2013): Peacock (Subscription), Rent/Buy on Amazon/Apple.
- The Purge: Anarchy (2014): Peacock, occasionally on Max.
- The Purge: Election Year (2016): Peacock or rental.
- The First Purge (2018): Often on FXNow or FuboTV; otherwise rental.
- The Forever Purge (2021): Usually available to rent; sometimes on Freevee.
- The Purge TV Series: Peacock (Seasons 1-2).
Moving Forward with Your Marathon
Before you hit play, check a live aggregator like JustWatch or Reelgood. These sites track the daily shifts in licensing. Since it’s 2026, streaming platforms are more fragmented than ever, and a movie can literally move from one service to another at midnight.
If you find a film is only available for rental, consider checking your local library's digital portal like Hoopla or Kanopy. You’d be surprised how often "horror" staples are available there for free with a library card.
The most efficient next step is to consolidate your viewing. Check Peacock first, as it remains the primary hub for the series. If you're planning to watch all five films and the series, a one-month subscription to Peacock Premium is significantly cheaper than renting each movie individually. Once you’ve finished The Forever Purge, look out for news on the rumored sixth film, which James DeMonaco has hinted would bring back Frank Grillo to see a world that has completely fractured. Just make sure your doors are locked before the sirens start.